Although the Saudi side had an option to buy Samaras permanently, he returned to England amid reports that he hadn’t settled in the Middle East.

Sporting Lisbon were linked with the striker, whose Baggies deal was terminated in July 2015.

Moves to Sampdoria in Serie A, and the New York Cosmos were mooted but neither deal came about and Samaras eventually joined up with Rayo OKC in Oklahoma, in the second tier of US football.

However, the club was shut down after just one season, and Samaras became a free agent. He was linked with Real Zaragoza, who he signed for in February 2017.

In August that year, Samaras moved again to Turkey, with Samsunspor. His last goal in football came in a 2-1 loss to Gaziantepspor, while his final appearance was also in a 2-1 away loss, this time to Giresunspor.